Hi Tony, we started 4 first then 3,2,1. Number 3 is quite a slow starter so we prefer to have another engine going before we start it. Once that snags fixed it’ll be back to 3,4,2,1

Seems the BBC’s ‘expert’ Darren Sharp is actually an IT expert. Well done him and well done BBC….

https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/darren-sharp/5/7bb/990

Hi,
Was wondering why the two RAT inlet doors are always open during ground operation and I believe before take off. Also, any information about the RAT generators would be much appreciated

The RAT scoops are hydraulically held down and have a large spring in the mechanism to bring them up. You can close the rats on the ground by using the RAT open/close switches, but unless the sensing unit detects that the engines are above 55% they will open again once the switch is released. This is a fallback to when it was a nuclear bomber when there was a fear that a four engined flameout could occur. On the engines decelerating below 55% or the pilots RAT selector being selected to start they would raise in flight.

They are left open during the take off roll and immediately after take off to check their functionality (the minimum speed to achieve 200v/400cycles eludes me) but after that they are selected shut and remain so until landing

All very well and good if you can get the wheel off.

I’m sure given your ‘lengthy career” you would be able to get them off in no time so I look forward to you coming to help free them up, which incidentally we tried to do for a good 3 years or so…

Just disgraceful plain and simple

Hi Terry,

Thanks for your comprehensive replies! The gyros that are fitted in the tray beneath the Nav Radar desk work perfectly, the ones you see have just been slaved in using extra cables to the aircraft hence only one at a time is moving so the failure flag is appearing. It is one of the spare gyros that when slaved into the main system displays roll but no pitch. Without the dedicated test facilities this is the best we can do. Continuity and resistance checks on the spare gyro might tell us something!

The aircrafts MFS works as per spec with no failure flags or lights, we plugged the MFS test set in not too long ago and everything was in limits. Not bad for the ‘mystery’ flight system!